GIZZA (micro) JOB!

Hi Beckie. I'm currently trying to get my head around the micro/virtual-volunteering thing. I guess I am one of those sceptics because a lot of "micro-volunteering" appears to be things like filling in online petitions, downloading energy-saving software, clicking on a link that (allegedly) feeds someone for a day.

Without getting in to a discussion of the merits of that kind of thing, what do you think is the scope for using micro-volunteering to fulfil what are very small but very useful tasks for small local groups? The hypothetical situation that keeps cropping up in my mind is that of a very small local social enterprise that has become moribund, and a new-comer is trying to revive it. The last person left the financials in an absolute state and the newcomer just can't get his/her head around the spreadsheet. It's important to solve, but this is not what they are good at. Someone who knew spreadsheets could sort it in 2 hours, but they are getting bogged down in it. That's definitely a micro-volunteering task, but it is quite distinct from some of the other things that go under that name.

The link at the bottom of this post summarises what I am aiming at. Any thoughts on how it differs or is similar to what you are proposing?

Thanks,
Pete

@PeteCollins Hello! I think there's real scope for the third sector to expand in to micro/virtual volunteering and develop it as an asset to their organisation. When we talk about micro-volunteering at i-volunteer, we are thinking of a wide spectrum ranging from tiny actions like tweets and online petitions, to more ongoing projects like mentoring and skilled projects such as your spreadsheets. Hopefully, the way V2 will connect skills and opportunities should make it easier for the right people to find the right activities for their talents and their timescale. The key factor is that the activities can be done remotely and broken down to a timeframe that is enabling for the volunteer. So whereas someone good at spreadsheets might be unable to donate two hours one evening to a complicated project, they might instead be able to have the same positive impact by donating ten minutes of their commute or lunch break over the course of a few weeks, or perhaps even by donating only ten minutes as part of a virtual team of 20 (that perhaps doesn't work for this example, but hypothetically...). It depends on the volunteer and depends on the project, and certainly virtual volunteering won't work for every situation. But I think micro/virtual volunteering is uniquely about flexibility, and that is one of the reasons I think it could be such an exciting platform for volunteering in the future. Does this answer your question? Thanks for getting in touch, Beckie.

Becky,
At Borders Family History Society, http://www.bordersfhs.org.uk , at least one of our volunteers is effectively micro-volunteering, because she spends 10 to 15 minutes each weekday after she's back from taking the kids to school, transcribing records for us. Even though that's not much time in one go, it adds up over the school year and it's on a project that's not time critical, is easily managed, is fairly repetitive (in the sense of not needing lots of resources and an easy to remember process), easily stopped and started; and for her, always interesting because very few records are the same. Another task that could be done in this way is proof-reading.

Another idea that I published on LinkedIn in response to Orange Mobile's call for micro volunteering ideas using a phone, is that all around the UK there are charities and social enterprises providing talking newspapers for the blind, essentially by a volunteer reading a newspaper article aloud and creating an audio file. There is a number of programs that enable people to create MP3 files by speaking into their phone, so this would be one way of using a volunteer. I don't know of any talking newspapers who are currently doing this but I'm sure that iT4Communities can help a charity or a social enterprise do this by finding a suitable volunteer. It would need a bit of co-ordination to ensure that they didn't get two people reading the same story, but this would be a way of using a few spare minutes productively.

Pertinax

Proof reading via micro volunteering - http://www.helpfromhome.org/action_goodcauses_writtenword.htm
Scroll down the page to 'Proofread a Page'

Talking newspapers for the blind - I suggested a similar idea to my local blind institute that I volunteer for, quite a few years ago. It was for magazines and was proposed to be conducted via landline phone. It was never adopted! But hey, now the mobile app is upon us - who knows.

Hello! If volunteers are volunteering from home/other place remotely on a project you have given them, do we have to consider risk, H&S, insurance etc?

Hi,

I'm volunteer fundraising manager for GamBLE (Gambia Building Links in Education) http://www.gam-ble.co.uk/ They need school uniforms donated for children at their school in The Gambia. They also need pencils and resources etc. If you can donate these and stop them going to landfill when your children have outgrown them, then they will make a huge difference to these children. Environmentally friendly, free and hugely valuable micro volunteering for this charity.

You can also search for gam-BLE on facebook!

This website is a great free way to raise money for charity http://www.everyclick.com/gamble (you can choose the charity you'd like to fundraise for every time you search the internet). It's free for you, but every time you search your chosen charity get paid by everyclick! Simple 2 minute volunteering that can make a real difference!

Another really useful 5minute volunteering effort is nominating your chosen local charity to be the charity of the month at your local supermarket-I know that Asda, Waitrose and Sainsburys have schemes like this.

Doing things such as listing items on ebay for charity can be done pretty quickly too and is a good way to micro volunteer.

One Difference (makers of one water) on facebook gets pumps out into poor regions in the third world by getting fans on their page. One Difference
is a global organisation that funds clean water, health and sanitation projects. So far, they have raised over £5 million and changed the lives of over 1.3 million people. They need your support, not your money. In July 2010 the Facebook PlayPump was installed in Chikumba F.P. School in the district of Thyolo, Malawi. The school has 1103 girls, 993 boys and 13 teachers and the pump will serve a community of 7300 people.

You can also get involved by making a video: http://www.onedifference.org/about-us/news/challenge-us-and-help-produce-our-reading-festival-videos

Also obviously tweeting and facebooking everyone you know with campaign info is helpful.

At Diabetes UK you can take part in our e-campaigns, such as our current one to support our Children's Charter

And if you're under 18, you can join our My Voice network and take part in a whole range of campaigning activities, like sending cards to politicians telling them what needs improving, and lots more.

I will probably need a couple of volunteers to moderate a discussion forum. This would take maybe 10mins per day per volunteer.

Or 'sharing' interesting articles on our Google reader account. Takes about 15mins to go through them all.

@deetatthewaterfront re. risk assessments for micro volunteering, see this new post by @Debbieu http://www.i-volunteer.org.uk/debbieu/micro-volunteering-risk-assessments/

I am running an event called Found a Pound, a creative treasure hunt to find hundreds or maybe thousands of pound coins hidden in art galleries and public spaces during the 2010 Liverpool Biennial. The project aims to encourage giving and we will start by giving to YOU, British £1 coins. All you have to do is find them.

Visitors to foundapound.com will find imaginative ways on how a single pound coin can be used to make a difference and about regional and international volunteering opportunities.

I would like to include information on Micro Volunteering, can anyone tell me a site where people can actually take part in Micro Volunteering.

I also welcome help from Micro Volunteers and normal volunteers on marketing, researching and funding this project as well as people on the ground in Liverpool.

I also welcome information from anyone who would like their charity or volunteering opportunity featured on [foundapound.com].(http://www.foundapound.com)

Micro Volunteering websites for your edification:

Help From Home - UK based and probably the website you're looking for!!
Charity Guide - US biased and based
Microvoluntarios - Spanish based and in Spanish!

For those involved in the micro volunteering arena, I have not included The Extraordinaries in the above list, because they are in private beta stage at the moment.

This website allows you to donate every time you shop online through selected stores, including Amazon and e-bay. Sainsbury's are currently donating 50p for every grocery shop. Brilliant!

http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/